Pneumatic tube carrier



Ja. 6, 1942. M, p ANDERSON 2,268,852

PNEUMATIC TUBE CARRIER Filed Aug. 2, 1940 Patented Jan. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC TUBE CARRIER Maurice P. Anderson, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,694

` 8 claims. (01. 243-85) This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tube carriers and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

The invention has as a further object to provide a pneumatic tube carrier having an indicating device at one end and a new and improved door or cover at the other end which may be opened to insert material in and remove it from the carrier. The invention' has as a further object to provide a pneumatic tube carrier having a felt door or cover at one end, arranged to reduce the resistance of the passage of the carrier through the tube. The invention has as a further object to provide a pneumatic tube carrier having a door or cover at one end with a new and improved anchor strap and hinge. The invention has as a further object to provide a pneumatic tube carrier with a door or cover at one end and means for strengthening the door end of the carrier. The invention has as a further object to provide a pneumatic tube carrierwith means for accurately holding the door or cover in position against the carrier When the carrier is moving through the tube and for preventing deformation of the door or cover.

The invention has further objects which are more particularly pointed out in the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawing wherein I have shown one form of device embodying the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side View of the device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view looking at the cover or door end of the carrier; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the door or cover opened.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

The carrier illustrated in the drawing comprises a hollow receptacle I of any suitable material, having at one end an indicating device 2 of any suitable form or construction.

At the other end of the hollow receptacle I is a door comprising a member 3 of some suitable material, such, for example, as felt. The felt member has on opposite sides of it the discs I and 5 of rigid material, see Fig. 2. These discs are fastened together and fastened to the felt member which is preferably of U-shaped cross section and which has the inner member 9 and the outer member I0, the members being integral and being looped over the edge of the wall 8. There is a metal ring Il within the U-shaped reinforcing device and between the members 9 and I0 thereof. This construction strengthens and reinforces the end of the hollow receptacle against the blows which the carrier receives in use.

The cover or door is hinged in position by a flexible hinge. This flexible hinge as herein shown consists of a strap which passes around the metal ring II so as to provide a double hinge consisting of the members I2 and I3. Thek rein'- forcing device is cut away at the point where the hinge passes around the ring I I. This hinge is fastened to the felt member 3 by means of the .fastening devices or rivets I4. There is a fastening, device for fastening the door or cover in its closed position.' As herein shown, this consists of a flexible member which is looped around the ring I I and which therefore has two flexible sections I5 and I6. The felt member 3 is cut away at I'I to provide a notch for the fastening device. Attached to the felt member and associated vparts is a locking member I8 which may be of any suitable form, and as herein shown,

it has an enlarged end or head I9 anda reduced portion 20 near the outer end of the head. This locking member passes through the discs 4 and 5 and the felt member 3 and also preferably through the members I2 and I3 of the hinge device, and is preferably provided with an enlargement 2I for holding it in position. There is also preferably a metal washer 22 between the head I9 and the hinge members I2 and I3. The

fastening device is provided with a locking member 23 which is attached to the fastening device and which has an opening 24 into which the enlarged end or head of the locking member I8 is received.

There is a spring member in the locking member 23 which has two opposed members 25 and 26. When this locking member 23 is pressed down over the head I9 of the locking member I8 the spring members 25 and 26 spread out and then move into the reduced portion 20, thus holding the parts in position. When it is desired to release the locking member 23, it is simply pulled out and the springs move out around the enlargement at the end so as to release the two locking members. When a small pneumatic tube carrier is used only one locking device will be used. When a large pneumatic tube carrier is used I prefer to provide two locking devices.' The second locking device is similar to the rst locking device and I have applied the same reference numerals with the exponent a attached thereto.

The locking member I8a is provided with a spacer washer 21 so as to bring the locking member 23a up to a position substantially level with the locking member 23 when the two locking members are in their locking position. This spacer washer also serves as a fender to resist impacts to the locks or fasteners when the carriercollides With obstructions.

There is a flexible piece or skirt 28 which extends around the end of the outer wall 8 and which preferably abuts against the member 3 of the door. This member 3 which is preferably made of felt, has a beveled edge 29 at the front. This beveled edge on the front of the door member 3 is very important as it assists the felt cover in passing through the tubes. This beveled edge allows the carrier and the felt cover to pass `through or over terminal doors, terminal triggers,

curves, offsets, unbutted and rough joints in the -tube system without catching or momentarily `holdin-g the carrier during its transmission.

I claim: l

1. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising a hol- -low receptacle 4having an outer wall, -a U-shaped `metal member looped over the edge of the wall at one end of said hollow receptacle, a'metal ring enclosed in said U-shaped metal member,

a ldoor for closing said end, and a flexible hinge lconnected with said metal ring and said door.

2. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising a hollow receptacle having an outer Wall, a U-shaped metal member looped over the edge of the wall at one lend of said hollow receptacle, a metal ring enclosed in said U-shaped metal member, a door 'for closing said end, a flexible hinge connected with said metal ring and saiddoor, and a fastening device for fastening said door in its closed position, comprising a flexible fastening member connected with said metal ring and removably connected with said door.

3. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising a hollow receptacle having an outer wall, a U-shaped metal member looped over the edge of thewall at one end of said hollow receptacle, a metal ring enclosed in said U-shaped metal member, a door for closing said end, a iiexible hinge connected with said metal ring and said door, a fastening device for fastening said door in its closed position, comprising a exible fastening member connected with said metal ring and removably connected with said door, a locking member connected with said flexible fastening member, and a xed locking member on the door to which said rst mentioned locking member is removably connected.

4. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising a hollow receptacle having an outer wall, a U-shaped metal member looped over the edge of the wall at one end of said hollow receptacle, a metal ring enclosed in said U-shaped metal member, a door for closing said end, a strap hinged member comprising two lapping sections with a loop at one end in Which said metal ring is received and fastening means for fastening the other end of said hinge to said door.

5. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising a hollow receptacle having an outer wall, a U-shaped metal member looped over the edge of the wall at y'one end of said hollow receptacle, a metal ring lenclosed in said U-.shaped metal member, a door for closing said end, a flexible hinge connected with said metal ring and said door, a fastening Ydevice for fastening said door in its closed position, comprising a strap comprising two lapping sections forming va yloop at one end into which said metal ring is received, a fastening device connected with said strap, a fixed fastening device connected with said door and connecting devices on said fastening devices which removably connect the fastening devices together.

6. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising a hollow receptacle having an outer wall, a yU-shaped metal member looped over the edge of the wall at one end of said hollow receptacle, a metal ring enclosed in said :U -shaped metal member, a door for closing said end, a flexible hinge connected with said metal ring and said door, a fastening device for fastening said door in its closed position, comprising a flexible fastening member connected with said metal ring, two separated fastening devices connected with said door and extending along a diameter of the door, two fastening devices connected with said flexible fastening member and connecting devices for removably connecting the two 'fastening devices on the flexible member with the fastening devices on the door.

MAURICE P. ANDERSON. 

